Product Description

In 1993 Richard Ashcroft, the lead singer of a Wigan-based four-piece called The Verve, declared that 'History has a place for us. It may take us three albums, but we will be there.'

Four years later The Verve recorded their groundbreaking third album, Urban Hymns, and his prediction came true. The first single from the album, the string-laden epic 'Bitter Sweet Symphony', entered the charts at Number 2 and became the defining song of Summer 1997. The next single, 'The Drugs Don't Work', a desolately beautiful country-blues lament, reached Number 1. Urban Hymns is now one of the fastest selling British albums of all time, garnering The Verve three wins at the BRIT awards, including Best British Band.

In The Verve journalist Martin Clarke examines the rollercoaster history of the band, tracing its origins and early influences as well as the riotous tour behaviour, poor mental and physical health and internal conflicts which led it to implode within an inch of stardom in 1995. He focuses on the influence of outspoken and charismatic frontman Richard Ashcroft, the key force in re-forming the band, and assesses the controversy which surrounds him.

'I think our story is one that people can relate to because it hasn't been sweet from the start, it hasn't been overnight . . . We've had our ups and downs, we had our split up, we've had our this, that and the other. It's life within a band, and at this point in time, the world's tuned into what we've been doing and saying all along . . .' - Richard Ashcroft.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #450508 in Books
• Published on: 1998-11-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 120 pages

Cosmopolitan, December 1998
'Book of the Month'